Improved device for closing mail-bags



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. RHOADES, OF EAST HAMILTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR CLOSING MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,641 dated February 10, 1863.

.T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, GEORGE M. RHoADEs, of East Hamilton, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mode of Closing Mail-Bags and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in whieh- Figurel is a side view of my improved mail-bag, representing the leather covering by letter A. The U-shaped metallic fastening is represented by letter B, and the links for connecting said fastening by letter C. The parts above referred t0 are represented by a side sectional eleva-tion. Fig. 2 is a transverse view cutting all the parts crosswise. Fig. 3 is an end View of the Ushaped metallic fastening. Fig. 4 is a side view of the same. Fig. 5 represents the link for connecting the U-shaped fastenings by a side view; Fig. 6, a cross-section of one of the ways or guides, and Fig. 7 is a side view of the same.

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in all of the figures.

To enable others skilled in theart to fully understand and construct my invention, I will vproceed to describe it.

stood by reference to the drawings, as will also their relative relation to each other.

The U shaped metallic fastening referred to in Fig. 1 should be about the saine length as the ways above described. Their form will be clearly understood by au examination of Figs. 3 and 4. They may be made of plate or cast metal.

The link represented in Fig. 5 may be made of ordinary wire. This linkis employed tokeep the U-shaped fastenings, which are covered with a leather cap and riveted thereto, from being drawn apart. The upper or curved part of said fastenings approach near each other, as shown in Fig. The lower edge is shorter than the upper or curved part, the object of which is to render them more iieX- ible when connected. Said fastening being connected together in thel manner described, one end should be closed np, as shown at H, Fig. l. At the opposite end any convenient fastening or lock may be employed.

Very great advantages are derived by my improved fastening, as it is well known that much time is lost in performing this operation with the ordinary fastening when the mailbag has been exposed to storms of snow, and ice; whereas, by my improvement the mouth is protected and the operation of opening and closing performed in much less time than by any mode known to the subscriber.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The mode substantially as described of constructing a eXible fastening toamail-bag, and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE M. RHOADES.

Witnesses:

A. W. MonsE, GARDNER M oRsE. 

